Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 383 The Grand Duke's Seal Ring, Lin Jinlian's Dream

While temporarily stabilizing the ailing Philip II in the Eastern Sea Kingdom, Wang Cheng also personally planted a major time bomb for the vast British Empire.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Southeast Asia, Wang Fugui left Uncle Zhang and a portion of the company's fleet to be stationed in Manila to begin the first phase of the Pacification Commissioner's Office construction project, while the main force continued south.

Woo woo woo.
The fleet, carrying the overwhelming power to destroy cities and exterminate clans, sailed across the ocean.

The giant ship cuts through the waves, its sails forming a sea of ​​clouds.

All the large and small foreign states along the way, having already received the news, kept their doors tightly shut. Regardless of their relationship with the Frankish and Bangbangya people who had been entrenched in Luzon for a long time, no one dared to provoke them.

Many rulers of small countries sent lavish gifts to Wang Fugui, the envoy from Xuanwei, even from afar, fearing that this military envoy from the Great Zhao, with his unpleasant temper, might inadvertently bring shame upon his own country.

Although the Great Zhao Dynasty enforced a maritime ban, trade between these vassal states and the Great Zhao Dynasty never ceased over the past two hundred years.

Moreover, they often traded cheap goods for valuable ones, exchanging worthless "local specialties" for goods worth several times their own in Da Zhao, and all of them reaped huge benefits from the "tribute".

They had dealt with many scholars and officials, but this was the first time they had encountered a Zhao envoy who would kill an entire clan at the slightest disagreement.

I vaguely remember the last time I heard of a Chinese envoy with such a fiery temper was Wang Xuanze of the Tang Dynasty.

Bharata manifested his demonic powers and single-handedly destroyed a kingdom.

Unfortunately, he failed to push the border of the Tang Dynasty to the banks of the Heng River, so that the two countries could use the river as the boundary, thus achieving the ancient practice.

Today, the princes and nobles of Southeast Asia finally saw in this envoy Xuanwei the demeanor of an old friend and another side of Confucian culture:
"Education for all" – "When I teach you how to be a person, it doesn't matter who you are!"

Confucius said: "A gentleman who is not stern will not command respect."

In the past, Confucianism in China was only transmitted to Annam and Buyeo at most, and people in other places could not understand those profound Confucian principles.

Now, when they encounter an envoy who is straightforward and direct, and who preaches martial arts to them, their eyes immediately become clear.

Wherever the fleet passed, all the princes and nobles of Southeast Asia realized:
"The mighty Han spirit is returning to Southeast Asia, and the world over this sea is truly about to change."

However, most of these vassal states couldn't even find a single living deity, and their entire fleet of warships didn't even amount to a fraction of the size of the treasure ships. So, who ruled the South Seas was none of their concern.

Flagship, in the [Earth Official's Dharma Realm].

Wang Cheng reopened his eyes, looked at Cassandra sitting across the table, and gave her a mysterious smile:

"Master's wife, guess who I was just communicating with?"

On this journey south, he brought along Wu Cheng'en, the two living ghosts of the highest rank, and his teacher's wife Cassandra.

In any case, Philip II himself confirmed that nothing else is as important as the Gates of Hell right now.

Especially when the blockade of the Strait of Malacca failed and they had to compete with many forces, strategic retreat became the only option.

Wang Cheng certainly wouldn't leave behind a top-tier combatant to search for enemies in the void, thus wasting resources.

When Philip II used the two-way mirror to send a message, he didn't take the time difference into account at all. Wang Cheng, Shen Yueye, Cassandra and their family were having dinner at the time.

The fourth-rank chef, Uncle Zhang, stayed in Manila, and they could only make do with simple meals made from ingredients raised in the Earthly Official's Realm.

Steamed 100,000 kinds of seafood delicacies, taimen, yam and red and white eight-treasure chicken soup, deer tendon stewed duck with wine, eight-immortal braised duck and lotus root, bird's nest and three delicacies chicken longevity banquet dishes. Thirty-two dishes, hot and cold, were laid out on the table in a haphazard manner.

There was also a large bowl of fine green rice to accompany the meal.

Wang Cheng and Shen Yueye each cultivated a strand of true qi, and their appetites grew larger and larger. This was only for dinner, which emphasized "eating less," and lunch would only be more extravagant.

It's no wonder that the martial arts cultivator "Big Eater" Fuyao, who was opposite Qianyan, had an insatiable thirst for food.

Cassandra poured a bowl of her homemade eight-treasure chicken soup for her daughter and son-in-law, adding her secret medicinal herbs, her face full of love.

"Fugui, drink more."

She now sees Wang Cheng as a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law and growing to like him more and more.

He was handsome and valiant, skilled in both literature and martial arts, wealthy and powerful, with a large army and many generals. On their first meeting, he presented his mother-in-law with a living ghost as a reward for her promotion.

How could one not love the house and its inhabitants because of such a son-in-law?
Even the fact that the son-in-law actually has another wife and another mother-in-law has become a minor flaw that embellishes a series of good points.

This world has always been hypocritical. Some people's lust is seen as womanizing and lewd; while others' lust is seen as charming and talented.

Wang Cheng, who holds the titles of Prince Jinghai, Commander of Zhenhaiwei, Imperial Envoy, Xuanwei Envoy, Duke of Medinaceli, owner of Sihai Money Exchange, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Fruit Products, is undoubtedly the latter!
Upon hearing Wang Cheng's words, Cassandra guessed with great interest:

"Since they specifically asked me, it must be related to me. Could it be some important figure from the Frankish side?"

Wang Cheng gave a thumbs-up in praise:

"Indeed. There is good news this time."

And said:

"Master's wife, please give me your senior sister's hand."

Cassandra had no idea what strange thing he was up to this time.

However, in the short time they spent together, less than a month, it was already clear that although the son-in-law was full of bad intentions, he was very kind to his own people, so he did as he was told.

Wang Cheng took the fox sister's smooth little hand from his teacher's wife and chuckled at her:
"Your Excellency, the deal is done and cannot be reneged on!"

A square coin-shaped eye flashed in his eyes, and instantly something invisible transferred from his body to Cassandra's.

In addition to her stunning beauty, the latter inexplicably possessed an added touch of majesty and grandeur.

Wang Cheng had already given the title of Grand Duke to his teacher's wife, keeping only the title of Count of Denya for himself, intending to use it as a new guise for Franco's "political system reform".

As promised by Philip II, the Duke of Medinaceri vanished from the world, and only the Grand Duchess Paleologie remained!
"This is.?!!!"

Cassandra realized what Wang Cheng had given her, and her beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parted slightly, and her emerald eyes shimmered with tears. In the aristocratic system of the Western countries, the gap between fiefdom nobles and court nobles was greater than the gap between a human and a dog.

Although Cassandra is a princess of the last descendant of the Eastern Roman Empire, my Great Rome has long since perished. She has only the title and the claim, but has never received a real fiefdom.

The annotations in "Yanwu Huajian Ji" by ancestors of past generations who saw through the six desires and opened the six orifices reveal the hardships and suffering of this branch of the family.

Princess Sofia, a legendary avenger: "Find a powerful and influential old man who can fulfill your political ambitions, and inherit everything after he dies."

A second-generation royal noblewoman: "Find a powerful and influential man who can fulfill my political ambitions, then find a bunch of handsome lovers, and everyone can do their own thing."

A survivor of three generations of royal purges said: "If circumstances don't allow, find a handsome and wealthy man who can satisfy all my material desires."

Cassandra, a fourth-generation exile: "Find a handsome, wealthy, and capable man with whom you love each other and have children."

The criteria for choosing a spouse have been lowered again and again.

Now, having received a title and a vast and extremely wealthy duchy bestowed by Wang Cheng, the "name" and "reality" are united, which is of no less significance in mysticism than the dual cultivation of "life and death".

Kassandra not only rose to become one of the top five noble families in the Franco-Frankish Empire outside of the Habsburgs, but also gained a full range of powers as a duke.

It also greatly expanded its own authority: punishment, nobility, beauty, lust, assassination, and betrayal, giving most of these powers a real basis.

clang!clang!clang!
The forms of ghosts and gods manifested involuntarily, and sparks from the hammering of forging hammers flickered incessantly in the void.

She had only been promoted a few days ago, but the extended authority she had gained by "pretending to be dirty" quickly accumulated.

The demonic figure suddenly grasped a golden seal ring, representing Grand Duchess Paleolog!
The surface of the seal ring features the double-headed eagle emblem, a symbol of Roman legitimacy and widely found in the flags and heraldic systems of Western countries.

"Result: He becomes a head taller than others."

To become the absolute ruler of all the domains one governs, forcibly dominating those of lower status and position, the effectiveness of which depends on the difference in their cultivation levels.

When an official reaches the level of a high-ranking deity, the main method of cultivation is no longer to seek within, but to seek without. Fulfilling divine duties in this world is the best form of cultivation.

Every bit of influence generated will have a corresponding effect on one's own Dharma form.

Once all the powers are fully perfected, and a unique divine ritual is performed, a second-grade realm of exclusive Dharma realm can be created.

This title of Grand Duke may be just power and wealth to others, but to Cassandra it is nothing short of an opportunity to attain enlightenment!
She opened her mouth to speak, but Wang Cheng stopped her with a smile and a raised hand. He first explained the trap he had set for Philip II, and then said:

“Master’s wife, there’s no need to refuse.”

You are now a high-sequence Scarlet Veil.

Your formidable strength is enough to ensure that no one will dare to covet Paleorog's claim to power again. This is the best opportunity for you and the legitimate imperial lineage to return to the Western Continent.

And that chaotic and vast empire on the other side is the perfect stage for you to fulfill your divine duties.

Today I may only be a Grand Duchess, but in the future I might have the opportunity to call you Her Majesty.

Cassandra then smiled:
"Alright, with our combined strength, one inside and one outside, we can definitely sweep away the Franks."

Shen Yueye, standing nearby, was somewhat displeased. She turned around, hugged her elderly mother's arm, and said coquettishly:
"Mother, are you selling your daughter like this?"

But his elderly mother pressed her delicate hand against his face and solemnly said:
"I'm sorry, Ruyi, the shelf life of maternal love has expired. Now that the money and goods are settled, I don't know you well."

I'm afraid my son-in-law will misunderstand.

Pressing her flower-like beautiful face aside, he ruthlessly turned her away, and then changed his attitude towards Wang Cheng:
"Fugui, don't call me 'Master's Wife' anymore."

He stood up, patted the tall, 185cm man on the shoulder, his face full of kindness and gentleness:
"My dear son-in-law, calling me 'Master's Wife' is too tiring. From now on, just call me 'Mother'."

If Ruyi misbehaves at home, you can hang her up and beat her without giving her mother any face.

Clearly, maternal love doesn't disappear; it simply transfers from one person to another.

Shen Yueye was so angry that she bared her teeth and brandished her claws like a little fox:
"Oh dear, I'll fight you to the death!"

But Wang Cheng reached out and hugged her, making a very serious promise to his mother-in-law:
"Mother, my senior sister is a priceless treasure to me. How could I bear to hang her up and beat her?"

Cassandra gave them a strange look, thinking to herself:

"That night I heard you guys studying the sailors' 'fifty ways of tying knots,' and Ruyi even shouted that it was too tight, too tight."

If you tell me now that the knot was for hanging the sail, do you think I'd believe you?

"ah--!"

Shen Yueye was still too young to understand, and her face turned red when Cassandra stared at her. She grabbed Wang Cheng and fled in panic.

Subsequently, the fleet, relying on the figureheads to distort the sea winds, advanced at full speed and sailed at sea for another three days.

We are gradually approaching Borneo, the kingdom of Brunei in northern Borneo. After consulting the star chart, we expect to arrive early tomorrow morning.

Wang Cheng went to bed early to conserve his energy and prepare for the ambush and killing of his sect's archenemy, Long Biseng, the next day.

Before setting sail, the master only said to run away as soon as he saw Luang Phor Seng.

Now that his disciple, who was the catalyst for this series of events, is alone, he should naturally be sent to see the Buddha without hesitation!

However, in his sleep, Wang Cheng suddenly heard an ethereal female voice calling his name:
"Brothers of Fortune, Brothers of Fortune"

When Wang Cheng suddenly opened his eyes, he found a person standing in front of him.

This was none other than Lin Jinlian, the "Fairy Woman" who had already been killed by the monk Longbi!

(End of this chapter)